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Use resources to help S'porean undergrads: Ngiam
by Ng Jing Yng
Updated 11:50 PM Nov 08, 2012
SINGAPORE - Instead of giving scholarships to foreigners who might not sink roots here, the country's resources could be better used to help Singaporean undergraduates, some of whom have to work part-time to support themselves financially, former top civil servant Ngiam Tong Dow said yesterday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a higher eduation dialogue hosted by the National University of Singapore (NUS), Mr Ngiam, who is an NUS Pro-Chancellor, also remarked that NUS law student and ASEAN scholar Alvin Tan Jye Yee should be expelled.
Mr Tan made headlines last month after he and his girlfriend posted explicit videos and pictures of themselves on his blog. The Malaysian has been disciplined by the university but NUS was tight-lipped about the nature of the punishment.
"This ASEAN scholar, bloody joker, we should sack him," Mr Ngiam said.
While he acknowledged the need for overseas talents, Mr Ngiam argued against having too many foreign undergrads on Singapore-sponsored scholarships. "That is very unfair… That is nonsense… you have to import talent but how many of them want to stay back here?" said Mr Ngiam.
Over the years, the percentage of foreign student intake in universities here has fallen from about 20 per cent to the current 16 per cent. The Government has said that the proportion will be cut to 15 per cent by 2015.
by Ng Jing Yng
Updated 11:50 PM Nov 08, 2012
SINGAPORE - Instead of giving scholarships to foreigners who might not sink roots here, the country's resources could be better used to help Singaporean undergraduates, some of whom have to work part-time to support themselves financially, former top civil servant Ngiam Tong Dow said yesterday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a higher eduation dialogue hosted by the National University of Singapore (NUS), Mr Ngiam, who is an NUS Pro-Chancellor, also remarked that NUS law student and ASEAN scholar Alvin Tan Jye Yee should be expelled.
Mr Tan made headlines last month after he and his girlfriend posted explicit videos and pictures of themselves on his blog. The Malaysian has been disciplined by the university but NUS was tight-lipped about the nature of the punishment.
"This ASEAN scholar, bloody joker, we should sack him," Mr Ngiam said.
While he acknowledged the need for overseas talents, Mr Ngiam argued against having too many foreign undergrads on Singapore-sponsored scholarships. "That is very unfair… That is nonsense… you have to import talent but how many of them want to stay back here?" said Mr Ngiam.
Over the years, the percentage of foreign student intake in universities here has fallen from about 20 per cent to the current 16 per cent. The Government has said that the proportion will be cut to 15 per cent by 2015.
